On Tuesday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) reported that the global average temperature for 2024 is likely to be the hottest on record since 1850. It also added that as of December 29, Taiwan’s annual average temperature reached 24.97°C, making this the hottest year since 1897.
CWA Weather Forecast Center Director Chen Yi-liang (陳怡良) pointed out that significant warming has been observed both in oceans and on land as global warming continues. He said that from January to November, the global average temperature was 1.28°C higher than the 20th-century average, surpassing last year's record.
Chen added that Taiwan’s average temperature for this year is 1.66°C higher than the 100-year average. Looking at monthly temperatures, the average temperature from January to November has been hotter than average, with April being the warmest month of the year.
On typhoons and tropical storms, Chen noted that the number of autumn typhoons this year was the third highest on record, with 26 formed in the Northwest Pacific. Historically, the highest number of typhoons occurred in 1964, with 19 typhoons, followed by 16 in 2013 and 2019.
While Taiwan’s overall rainfall for the year was near average, it was unevenly distributed. Areas in the north and parts of central and southern Taiwan received more rain than usual, while other regions experienced normal or below-average rainfall.
Looking ahead, the forecast suggests that Taiwan’s rainfall in the first quarter of 2025 will likely be normal to below average, with temperatures expected to remain near typical levels.